Both Ireland and the European Games themselves get off to a middling start

No one said it would be easy. After spending €85 million on their opening ceremony, the Azerbaijani organisers of these European Games could at least afford to believe the medals would be hard earned. So it’s proving, if only for now.

The organisers might also have hoped that crowds of people would be watching, and not just in Baku. So it’s not proving. It’s still early, although the first impression is less of a flame yet to fully alight and more of a candle in the wind.

There were high expectations that Aileen Reid would get Ireland’s medal hopes off to a winning start, although her sixth-place finish in the women’s triathlon wasn’t unduly disappointing: the medals in that event went to the three leading athletes in the sport, including the gold and silver winners from the London Olympics.

Decided early

No easy medals there, obviously, although they were decided early into the 40km cycle, not long after the 1.5km swim, and well before the 10km run. That’s where the trio broke away and never looked back, Switzerland’s Nicola Spirig taking the gold, just like she did in London.

Joining her on the medal podium was Rachel Klamer from the Netherlands, the 2013 European Triathlon champion (in second), and Sweden’s Lisa Norden, the silver medallist from London (in third).

Reid’s medal hopes were dashed long before the run, typically her best discipline, as she ended up three minutes and 30 seconds behind Spirig at the finish.

“I just wasn’t strong enough on the bike,” she admitted, “and those three girls up front really showed where it’s it.”

Hardly anyone showed up to watch, despite the beautiful setting, along Bilgah Beach. Even though the triathlon was one of the few free events, there was barely anyone watching on the roadside.

There was the same paltry spectator presence for the men’s triathlon on Sunday, when Gordon Benson won Great Britain’s first gold. A surprise bronze awaited Azerbaijan and Rostyslav Pevtsov, even if he only recently switched allegiance from Ukraine. Ireland’s Russell White struggled with the heat and ended up 36th.

First European gold

The historic honour – possibly in more ways than one – of winning the first ever European Games medal fell to Switzerland’s Jolanda Neff, for the women’s mountain biking. Presenting that gold was our own Pat Hickey, president of the European Olympic Committee.

Yet even with the Games underway, there is still the controversy over of how and why Azerbaijan is forking out such vast sums of money hosting them.

The reported budget of Friday night’s two-hour opening ceremony was €85 million, significantly more than the €37 million spent on the London Olympics’ opening extravaganza, and much less memorable.

Still, with more of the 20 sporting events rolling out yesterday, Baku is now getting to show off more of its shining new venues, including the 5,500-seater National Gymnastics Arena.

Not all the seats were full, and the atmosphere was more curiosity than sporting fervour.

As a showcase for the sport, however, the arena certainly fit the billing – especially for Irish male gymnasts Kieran Behan, Daniel Fox and Rohan Sebastian.

Irish gymnasts

Not many would even know that Ireland had three male gymnasts, and it certainly provided them with a rare international platform on which to exercise their considerable athleticism, as part of the men’s team qualification.

Likewise for the trio of teenage Irish female gymnasts (Tara Donnelly, Nicole Mawhinney and Ellis O’Reilly) who would never get to experience this level of competition were it not for the European Games.

Well outside Baku – 250km, to be exact – the canoeing got underway in the city of Mingachevir, home to the new National Olympic Rowing Centre. Ireland’s Jenny Egan made the B final of the women’s canoe 500m sprint, with a personal best time of 1:52.53, also a new Irish record.

Today, Andrzej Jezierski goes in the 200m sprint, with definite ambitions of getting into the final. Poland-born Jezierski, who also represented Ireland in London, is certainly competitive at this level, although so far it’s not been proving easy for anyone.